Well packer and anchoring means therefor



April 1953 ,R. K. LE ROUAX 2,633,918

WELL PACKER AND ANCHORING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Sept. 2, 1950 4 SheetsSheet 1 CLUJLJ EIZAW ATTORNEYS April 7, 1953 R. K. LE ROUAX 2,633,918

WELL PACKER AND ANCHORING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Sept. 2, 1950 4 She'ets$heet 2 y A-: fi a 61 //0' 43%:4 26

40 36 24 Robert K. LefiouaX 25 IN VEN TOR.

dl/MmM B M.

// J A T TORNEVS April 7, 1953 R. K. LEROUAX 3, 8 WELL PACKER AND ANCHORING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Sept. .2, 1950 4Sheets-Sheet I5 B I g HTTORNEYJ Patented Apr. 7, 1953 WELL PACKER AND ANCHORING MEANS THEREFOR Robert K. Le Rouax, Houston, Tex., assignor to Oil Center Tool Company, Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application September 2, 1950, Serial No. 183,027

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in well packers and anchoring means therefor.

.One object of the invention is to Provide an improved well packer which is adapted to be set or anchored within a, well solely by a longitudinal movement of the supporting pipe string or mandrel, whereby the requirement that the support for the packer be rotated in order to set the packer is obviated and the disadvantages of rotation are eliminated.

An important object of the inve tion is to provide an improved well packer having a latching assembly associated with the anchoring means for normally latching the anchoring means against operation to permit lowering of the packer to the desired position within a Well bore; said latching assembly being operable by hydraulic pressure to release the packer anchoring means for actuation.

Another object is to provide an improved Well packer having the usual anchoring slip assembly, together with a latch means for normally latching the slip assembly in position against relative upward movement on the packer support; the'device also including a release means operable by fluid pressure from above an adapted to coact with the latch mean for disengaging the same to permit subsequent setting of the slip assembly by lowering of the packer support relative to said assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved anchoring means for a well packer including anchoring slips and a latch means for normally latching the slips in position which prevents their moving to a set position, with the arrangement being such that in the event the latching means is prematurely released, it may be reset without removing the entire well packer from the well bore. I

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved anchoring means for a well packer which is adapted to be moved into aset or packer-supporting position by a downward movement of the supporting mandrel of the packer and which is adapted to be released by a longitudinal upward movement of the supporting mandrel, whereby rotation of the supporting mandrel to effect either setting or release is unnecessary. Still another object is to provide an improved well packer which is simple in construction and comprises a minimum number of parts and which has means for permitting a washing operation to be carried out just prior to the final setting of the packer.

8 Claims. (01. 16612) Still another object is to provide an anchoringassembly which includes anchoring 'slips, together with a novel means for limiting the outward movement or radial expansion of the slips by its expanding member or cone. Y

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view of a well packer construct ed 'in accordance with the invention and showing the same in position being lowered through a well pipe with the anchoring means being latched against operation,

Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating the latching mechanism released in preparation for setting of the slips,

Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating the packer in its fully set position,

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the upper portion of the packer showing the parts in the position during lowering of the packer.

Figure 5 is a continuation of Figure 4 of the intermediate portion of the packer,

Figure 6 is a continuation of Figure 5 showin the lower portion of the packer and illustrating the latching means in its latched position,

Figure 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line of Figure 6, I

Figure 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional vie\ taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 6,

Figure 9 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the upper portion of the packer showing the same in its set position, 1

Figure 10 is a continuation of Figure 9 illus trating the lower portion of the packer when in its set position, and

Figure 11 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line l'l-I l of Figure 9.

In the drawings, the numeral Hi designates a well pipe or casing which is disposed within a well bore A and within which the improved well packer is adapted to be set or anchored. The packer is adapted to be lowered on an inner pipe or tubing string I l and the tubing forms the sole support for the packer, whereb the same may be lowered and raised within th well casing.

As is clearly shown in Figure 1, the well packer includes a packer assembly B at its upper end, an anchoring mechanism C at its intermediate portion and a latching assembly D at its lower portion. The latching assembly D, as will be hereinafter explained, is arranged to normally look the anchoring mechanism C against actuation whereby the packer may be lowered into the well casing A to the desired position therein. When the latching assembly is operated, the anchoring mechanism is released for actuation and by a longitudinal movement of the packer support or tubing ll said anchoring mechanism may be set, after which the packer assembly may be expanded to pack off between the inner supporting string or tubing II and the well casing A. The arrangement is such that when it IS desired to remove the packer, it is only necessary to pull upwardly on the inner supporting string or tubing II and this will result, as will be eX- plained, in the packer assembly B and the an-' choring mechanism C being released so that the entire unit may be removed from the well casing. It is pointed out that the structure is such that rotation of the inner string or tubing ll which supports the well packer is unnecessary to either set the anchoring mechanism or release the same.

Referring to Figures 3 to the inner supporting string or tubing l I has a valve head I2 connected therein and said head is formed with a seating surface I3 which may have an annular packing ring I4 mounted therein. A section Ila of the tubing extends downwardly from the valve head I2 and projects entirely through the well packer. At its lower end the section Ila has a coupling collar I5 threaded thereon and a tail pipe I6 extends downwardly from the collar. The upper surface of the collar (Figure 6) is curved as indicated at IM and this curved surface merges into the lower end of longitudinal recesses l! which are formed'in the external surface of the lower portion of the tubing section ll a. These recesses, together with the curved upper surface of the collar Ilia, provide lay-passes, as will be hereinafter explained.

The packer assembly B includes a tubular mandrel I8 (Figure 4) which surrounds the upper portion of the tubing section Ila and the upper end of the mandrel has an annular valve seat member 19 secured thereto. The member I9 is formed with an inclined seat 29 which is adapted to be engaged by the seating surface 13 of the valve head. The bore of the mandrel I8 is of larger diameter than the external diameter of the tubing section lla whereby a flow passage 2| is provided between the mandrel and the tubing section. A pair of superposed packing sleeves 22 surround the mandrel and have flanged retaining collars 23 confining the upper and lower ends of said packing sleeves. The lower retaining collar of the lowermost packing sleeve engages the upper end of a tubular perforated sec tion 24 which section encircles the tubing Ila in spaced relationship thereto. The perforated section 24 having a plurality of radial perforations 25 is connected to the lower end of the mandrel I8 by a shear pin 26, and thus the packing elements 22 are confined on the mandrel l8 between the upper valve seat member I9 which is secured to the upper end of the mandrel, as by welding l9a, and the perforated tubular section 24. The external surface of the packing elements 22 is normally of a diameter less than the bore of the well casing Ill, and thus, so long as the shear pin 26 connects the mandrel to the perforated section 24, distortion of the packing elements cannot be effected.

The tubular perforated section 24 which encircles the supporting tubing Ila has its lower end welded or otherwise secured to an expander cone 2? which surrounds the section Ila (Figure 5) and said cone is normally attached to the section Ila by a shear pin 28. It is noted that the shear pin 28 is of lesser strength than the shear pin 26 whereby the pin 28 will shear under a lesser weight than will the upper shear pin. The expander cone 2'! has its lower end engaging an external shoulder 29 which is formed on the tubular supporting section Ila.

The slip expander cone 2'! is adapted to coact with gripping slips 38 and these slips have been illustrated as three in number although, of course, any desired number may be employed. Each slip is arcuate in cross-section and has gripping teeth 3l formed on its external surface. The lower portion of the inner surface 32 of each slip generally conforms to the external surface of the supporting tubing section Ila while the upper portion of the inner surface of each slip is inclined or tapered as indicated at 33; the tapered portion 33 of the inner portion of each slip is adapted to coact with the inclined outer surface of the expander cone 2? when the expander cone is moved downwardly between the slips as illustrated in Figure 9. For limiting the extent of expansion of the slips by the cone the lower portion of each slip is formed with an internal groove 34 which receives a stop ring 35 (Figure 5). The bore or opening through the stop ring 35 is of a diameter which is larger than the exterior of the section lla but is less than the. external diameter of the lower end 21a of the expander cone. Thus, when the expander cone is moved downwardly within the slips 39 as shown in Figure 9 the slips are moved outwardly into engagement with the bore of the well casing A and the movement of the cone within the slips is limited by the engagement of the lsoiwer end 21a of said cone with the stop ring Each gripping slip 3!! is connected by a flexible strap 35 with a collar 37 which surrounds the section Ila. The collar 37 forms the upper end of a friction spring assembly which assembly includes a tubular body 38 having spring-pressed friction shoes 38 mounted thereon and normally expanded by coil springs 40. The-friction shoes 39 engage the wall of the well casing and are maintained in frictional contact therewith by the springs 40.

Secured to the lower end of the tubular body 38 of the friction spring assembly are a plurality of elongate latch arms ll and each arm extends longitudinally of the tubing section I la. Each arm is constructed of fiat spring material which constantly urges the lower end of the arm inwardly into contact with the external surface of the tubing section l I a. The lower portion of each arm is formed with an inwardly projecting latching dog 42, which dog has its upper surface inclined inwardly at 43. The lower portion of the do is beveled or tapered inwardly at M, and this inclined surface terminates just above the lower end of the latch arm. Above the dog t2, the inner surface of each latch arm is provided with a groove 45 and above the groove a relatively elongate projection 46 is formed. The upper surface 4'! of the projection 46 is generally tapered 01 inclined as is shown in Figure 69 Each latch arm fill is arranged to coact with an annular groove or recess 48 which is formed in the external surface of the tubing section Ila.

The upperfwall-llliof the grooveor recess is inclined complementary to theinclined upper surface 43 of each latchin dog while the lower portion of said groove is tapered as indicated at 54 in Figure 6. The latching dogs 42 of the latch arms 4| are adapted to be engaged within the groove or recess 48 in the externa1 surface of the tubing section ||a and are maintained in such engagement by the inherent resiliency or flexibility of the spring latch arms 4|. When so engaged it will be evident that a lowering of the tubing and the tubing section |a will result in the latching dogs 42 remaining in engagement with the groove 48. This engagement is effected by the contact of the shoulder 49 of the groove 48 with the upper surface of the latching dogs 42. Since the latcharms 4| are directly connected to the friction spring assembly of the anchoring unit C, it will be evident that with the latch arms connected to the section I la, the section I la and the anchoring unit C will move downwardly as a unit;

the packer assembly element is connected through shear pin 28, cone 21; perforated section 24 and shear pin 26' to section Ila so that the assembly B also moves downwardly with the tubing and anchoring unit. It is, therefore, evident that with the latching dogs 42 engaging the annular groove 48 in thetubular section Ha the various parts of the device will maintain the relativepositions shown in Figure 1 and the tubing may be moved: downwardly within the well casing A with g the anchoring unit C in an inactive position and I the packer elements 22 in their retracted or nonsealing position.

For effecting a release of the latching dogs to permit a relative" movement between the tubing and. the gripping slips so that the expander cone connected to the tubing may be moved into the latching dogs 42 of the latch arms 4|. This ring has its lower external surface tapered as indicated at 52 and said ring is connected by a plurality of straps or bars 53 with an annular fluid pressure-responsive cup 54. The cup is slidable on'the section ,I Id at a point below the latch arms 4| and has a flexible-sealing lip 55 which frictionally engages the bore of the well casing A (Figure 6). The connecting straps or bars 53 which connect the ring 5| with-the cup 54 are preferably disposed between the latch arms 4 I. The release ring 5| and the cup 54jare freelyslidable on the tubing section Ia between the latch'arms 4| and the enlarged collar l5 at the lower end of the section Ha. i i In the operation the device is assembled as illustrated in'Figure '1 and is mounted on the tubing string whereby it may be lowered downwardly within the well casing A. At this time the upper shear pin 26 is connecting the mandrel l8 with the perforated connecting section 24 (Figure 4) and the perforated section 24 which has its lower end secured to the expander cone is connected through the lower shear pin 28 with the tubing string. The latch arms 4| are in a position with their dogs 42 engaging the annular recess or groove 48 in the exterior of the tubing section I la and the inherent'resiliency or spring tension of the latch arms maintains thi engagement; thus, the gripping slips 38 are latched to the tubing section Ia in a lowered position spaced from the expander cone. 7 i The release ring 5| which has connection through the straps'53 with the piston cup 54 is freely slidable on the section ||a above the latch- 6 ing dogs and as the device is lowered downwardly through the well casing the fluid pressure from below the cup together with the frictional en gagement of the cup member 54 with the wall. of the well casing will maintain the cup in a raised position engaging the lower end of the latch arms 4|, thereby disposing the release ring 5! in spaced relationship above the latching dogs 42, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 6. It will be evident that so long as the tubing string is moved downwardly the shoulder 49 of the recess 48 in the tubing section ||a will remain engaged with the upper inclined surface 43 of the latching dogs; and thus the grippingslips 30, as well as the expander cone and packing elements, will move downwardly as a unit with all parts bein maintained in the relationship shown in Figure 1.

When the position at which the packer is to be set is reached, it is necessary that the latch arms be swung outwardly so that their latching dogs are disengaged from the annular groove or recess 48; and this may be accomplished by applying a pump pressure to the cup member 54, the pres: sure'being applied through the annular space between the tubing and the casing. The pressure applied to the cup member 54 will move aid member downwardly on the tubing section Ho and since the member 54 has connection through the straps 01' bars 53 with the release ring, said ring will also be moved downwardly along the tubing section l|a.- At this time, the latch arms will be maintained stationary because said latch arms are connected to the friction shoe assembly and the frictional engagement of the shoes 39 with the wall of the well casing will function t prevent downward movement of the latch arms. As the cup member 54 ,moves downwardly to impart downward movement to the release ring 5|, the inclined or beveled outer surface 52. of the release ring will move into engagement with the cam surface 41 of the projection 46 and the coaction between these surfaces will result in an outward swinging of the latch arms 4| to the position shown in Figure 10. When this occurs,

the latching dogs 42 of the latch arms 4| are swung radially outwardly to clear the recess of groove 48 and thereafter a downward movement may be imparted to the tubing section Ha'by the tubing string without the groove engaging the latching dogs. The tubing string and its at-' tached section Ila move downwardly to cause the expander cone 2! to enter the gripping slips 35 which continue to be maintained in a stationary position by the friction shoes 39 andthus the gripping slips'3ll are-moved into an expanded or gripping position in engagement with the wall of the well casing. After the slips 3|] have moved into gripping position as illustrated inFigure 9, furtherdownward movement of the expander cone 'is prevented and at this point the valve head I2 at the upper end of the section He is just slightly above the valve seat 20 at the upper end of the packer assembly. At this time, a circulating or washing operation may be carried out;

When it is desired to set the packing elements 22, sufficient weight is imposed upon the lower shear pin 28 by the tubing string and this disbe imposed upon the valve seat member l9 and mandrel 8 whereby shearing of the upper pin 26 7 may-be, accomplished. As has 'beennoted, the pin.26 connects the mandrel E8 to the expander cone'through the perforated section 24, and thus when the pin 26 is sheared the mandrel may telescope the perforated section; since this perforated section is held stationary due to its connection with the expander cone the continued imposition of weight upon the valve seat and mandrel will result in moving the packing elements to an expanded position as illustrated in Figure 3.

The position of the latching slot 48 with respect to the supporting collar l at the lower end of the section Ha is in such relationship to the spacing between the cup member 54 and the release collar 5| that when the release collar has engaged the projection 45 to move the latch members outwardly, as has been explained, the cup member is located just above the supporting collar. It might be that upon subsequent downward movement of the tubing string which accomplishes seating of the packer that the re-- lease ring will move downwardly below the projection; however, in actual practice, in the fully set position of the packing elements 22 the release ring remains in engagement with the projection 46 and the recess 48 has been moved downwardly in a plane below the latch arms as shown in Figure 10. At this time, the packing cup member 54 is resting and supported upon the collar 5.

Fromthe foregoing it will be seen that the packer may be set without the necessity of imparting any rotation to the tubing string. The application of fluid pressure to the cup member 54 imparts movement to the release ring whereby the latch arms are swung outwardly and disengaged from the latching groove 48. Thereafter, it is only necessary to lower the tubing string to fully set the packer.

After the packer has been set and it is desired to remove the same it is only necessary to lift upwardly on the tubing string which moves the tubing section I la upwardly. The upward movement of the tubing disengages the valve head l2 from its seat and opens the by-pass passage formed within the mandrel l8. The packing elements 22 and mandrel are supported by the perforated section 24 and the expander cone 2! which is ultimately engaged by the external shoulder 28 on the tubing section Ha whereby these parts are moved upwardly by upward movement of the tubing. The packing cup member 54 will be engaged by the stop or supporting collar at the lower end of the section He and will function to sup-port the latch arms and gripping sli assembly as the same are moved out of the hole. It is noted that the recesses I! which are adjacent the upper end of the supporting collar 15 provide for a by-pass of fluid past the cup 54 when the cup is disposed adjacent said collar. It is therefore evident that upon removal it is only necessary to lift upwardly on the tubing and the entire assembly is thereby released and removed from the Well casing. One of the features of the present invention resides in the fact that a premature disengagement of the latch arms from the latching recess 48 will not interfere with the operation. As shown in Figures 4 to 6, with the parts in the position during running in the latching dogs 42 of the arms 4| are engaged with the groove 48. If a pressure should be applied to the packing cup member 54, suflicient to move the release ring downwardly prior to the time that the packer is to be set, this would cause an outward swinging of the latch arms and wouldperm-it a downward, movement of the tubing section I la with respect to said latch arms. However, at this time the tubing is connected through the shear pins 26 and 28 to the expander cone and so long as the pins remain unbroken a resetting of the-latch arms can be readily accomplished by merely lifting upwardly on the tubing string. Such upward movement of the tubing would result in the groove 48 again reengaging the latch dogs 42. The entire assembly is rugged in construction and permits the packer to be set and removed merely by the longitudinal movement or manipulation of the tubing string. It is noted that the gripping slips 30 cannot be expanded beyond a predetermined amount because the stop ring will contact the expander cone to limit the expansion of the slips and this prevents excessive gripping of the casing by the slips.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. a As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. A well packer device including, a support. a packing element assembly mounted on the support for engagement with a surrounding well wall to seal off between the support and the surrounding wall, an anchoring unit slidably mounted on the support below the packing element and having anchoring means adapted to engage the wall of a well bore to support the packing assembly and permit distortion of the packing element thereof into sealing position, said anchoring means being movable into' wall-engaging position upon a relative longitudinal movement of said anchoring means with respect to the support, latching means secured to the anchoring means and engageable with the anchoring means for latching said support against movement with respect to said support whereby the device may be lowered within a well bore, and means slidably mounted on the support and engageable with the latching means for releasing said latching means to thereafter allow relative movement of the anchoring means with respect to the support whereby said anchoring means may be moved into wall-engaging position, said means for releasing the latching means including a pressure-responsive member which spans the space between the support and the wall of the well bore whereby fluid pressure may be applied against said pressure-responsive member to efiect sliding movement of the releasing means on the support.

2. A well packer including, a support, a packing element on the support engageable with a surrounding well wall to seal off between the support and the surrounding wall, an anchoring unit below the packing element and slidably mounted on the support and having well wall gripping means adapted to grip the surrounding well wall upon a relative movement of the anchor- 9 ing unit with respect to the support, latching means attached to the anchoring unit and disposed exteriorly of the support, means on the support engageable by the/latching means for latching the anchoring unit against movement with respect to said support during downward movement of the support, a release element slidably mounted on the support and engageable with the latching means for disengaging said latching means from the support, whereby the support may be moved relative to the anchoring unit to actuate the anchoring means thereof, and a pressure responsive member secured to the release element and spanning the space between the support and well pipe, whereby fluid pressure may be applied to said member to impart movement to the release element and thereby actuate the same to disengage said latching means.

3. A well packer including, a support, a packing element on the support engageable with a surrounding well wall to seal off between the support and the surrounding wall, an anchoring to engage the shoulder upon downward movement of the support relative thereto to thereby latch the anchoring unit against movement with respectto the support, a release ring slidable on the support and normally above the latching shoulder, and a fluid pressure actuable means connected to said release ring for moving said ring downwardly with respect to the latch arm to engage and swing the latch arm clear of the shoulder upon applying fluid pressure to said means, whereby the support may be moved downwardly relative to the latch arm and anchoring unit to actuate the anchoring means of said unit and anchor the packer within the well pipe.

4. A well packer including, a support, a packing element on the support engageable with a surrounding well wall to seal ofi between the support and the surrounding wall, an anchoring unit below the packing element and slidably mounted on the support and having well wall gripping means adapted to grip the surrounding well wall upon a relative movement of the anchoring unit with respect to the support, said support having an external shoulder, a latch arm attached to the anchoring unit and adapted to engage the shoulder upon downward movement of the sup-- port relative thereto to thereby latch the anchoring unit against movement relative to the support, a release ring slidable on the support and normally above the latching shoulder, said release ring being movable downwardly with respect to the latch arm to engage and swing the latch arm clear of the shoulder, whereby the support may be moved downwardly relative to the latch arm and anchoring unit to actuate the anchoring means of said unit and anchor the packer within the well pipe, and an annular cup member secured to the release ring slidably mounted on the support and spanning the space between the support and the well pipe.

5. A well packer as set forth in claim 4, wherein the annular cup member which is secured to the release ring is provided with an upwardly directed sealing lip, whereby fiuid pressure from 10 above the cup member will urge the same in a downward direction.

6. A well packer as set forth in claim 4, together with a supporting collar on the lower portion of the support engageable by the cup member for preventing downward displacement of the cup member and release ring from the support, said support having by-pass passages adjacent the supporting collar for by-passing fluid around the cup member when said cup member engages the support upon upward movement of the member through the well pipe.

7. In an anchoring unit for well tools, a support, an expander cone mounted on the support, casing grippingslips slidably mounted on the support below the cone, frictional wall-engaging means connected to the slips, latch means secured to the slips and adapted to be detachably fastened to the support for latching the slips to the support in a position spaced from the expander cone, and releasing means slidably mounted on the support and having an element engageable with the latching means for disconnecting said means from the support and for rendering the latching means inactive to permit a relative downward movement of the support with respect to the slips to move the expander cone within the slips and thereby expand the same radially outwardly, said releasing means including an annular sealing cup surrounding the support whereby pressure applied to said cup will impart sliding movement to said releasing means.

8. A well packer including, a support, a tubular mandrel surrounding the support, a resilient packing element mounted on the mandrel for engagement with a surrounding well wall to seal off between the mandrel and the surrounding wall, a slip expanding cone surrounding the support below the mandrel, frangible means initially connecting the expanding cone with the mandrel, a second frangible means connecting the cone with the support, gripping slips slidably mounted on the support below the expanding cone, frictional wall-engaging means connected to the slips, latching means secured to the slips and engageable with the support for latching the slips in a position spaced below the expanding cone, and releasing means slidable on the support and engageable with the latching means to disconnect said latching means from the support, whereby the support and slip expanding cone connected therewith may be moved relative to the slips to expand the same into gripping position, said releasing means including a pressureresponsive sealing element surrounding the sup- 7 portwhereby pressure directed against said member will slide the releasing means along said support.

ROBERT K. LE ROUAX.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Morgan Nov. 14, 1944 

